How can I celebrate New Year’s Eve in Toronto and the GTA? What you need to know

Beth Macdonell has a preview of what Toronto has planned for New Year’s celebrations in the city.

Here’s what to know about New Year’s Eve (NYE) in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. There will be fireworks shows, DJ dance parties, and major road closures.

Fireworks

The City of Toronto will host a 10-minute fireworks show along the harbourfront.

There are seven designated viewing areas:

• Toronto Music Garden, 476 Queens Quay W.
• Sherbourne Common, 61 Dockside Dr.
• Sugar Beach Park, 11 Dockside Dr.
• HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay W.
• HTO Park West, 375 Queens Quay W.
• Harbour Square Park, 25 Queens Quay W.
• Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W.

Pedestrians are advised to take public transport and use York, Jarvis, Bay streets, or Spadina Avenue to access the waterfront viewing areas.

Brampton and Mississauga will also host its own minutes-long fireworks shows. In Brampton, revellers can go to Garden Square while those in Mississauga can head to Celebration Square.

Music to ring in 2026

The city said that its celebrations will be “anchored” at the Harbourfront Centre with a music concert hosted by Mayor Olivia Chow, along with drag queen Makalya Coutre and CP24’s Jessica Smith, beginning at 10 p.m.

Headlining the show will be Lu Kala, with opening sets from Cootie Catcher and Kalisway. DJ KIMIWVN will take over after midnight to keep the show going until 1 a.m.

Also at the Harbourfront will be DJ Skate Night, with DJ Smartiez, light displays, a winter maze, other live performances, and “curated food offerings in Community Square,” the city said in a press release.

Beyond the Harbourfront Centre, there will be shows at Sherbourne Common, Toronto Music Garden, and the CultureTO YouTube channel will be broadcasting the event. The waterfront will have “roaming performers, family-friendly activities and festive pop-up surprises,” the city said.

Then, outside of Toronto, Alessia Cara will headline the end of year celebration at Brampton. After her performance, Cara will be inducted to the Arts Walk of Fame.

Mississauga’s New Year’s Eve party kicks off with a K-Pop dance party with musicians like CMAGIC5, Alex Kade and Say Now taking the stage later in the night.

Transit and road closures

Toronto says that public transit is “strongly recommended” for NYE partygoers. TTC and GO service will be free from 7 p.m. on Wednesday to 8 a.m. on Thursday. UP Express will be be free on NYE but will only run until 3:45 a.m. The city advised customers to tap at kiosks but said that no one will be charged.

In order to “prevent overcrowding,” at Union Station customers will be directed to the east exterior entrance after midnight.

“Customers entering Union will only be allowed to access TTC through Bay Street entrance, customers may be asked to line up before entering station, staff and volunteers will be on hand,” Aderonke Akande, the director of arts and culture services at the City of Toronto said at a press event.

An exception will be made for those with accessibility concerns who will have access through Brookfield place.

“Queue lines on Bay Street will be separated for TTC and GO customers and customers are encouraged to follow signage and staff directions to ensure they are in the correct line,” the city said. They added that TTC riders are advised to consider using King, Queen, St. Andrew or Osgoode stations as alternatives to Union.

The city is planning on closing certain roads on NYE, and says that they may make additional closures if Toronto police deem it necessary.

• Eastbound traffic on Queens Quay West from 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31 to 1 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
• Bay Street from Front Street to Queens Quay West from 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31 to 1 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
• York Street from Front Street to Queens Quay West from 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31 to 1 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

There will also be road closures in Brampton and Mississauga on Wednesday night around the areas the end of year celebrations are taking place.